Bernard dreyfuss



(No Model.)

B. DREYFUSS.

l PLAYING CARDS.. No. 266,444. Patented Oct. 24,1882.

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lUNrrn sg F'Sfrnrss Fastener @raten BERNARD DREYFUSS, OF NEXV YORK, N. Y.

PLAYING-CARDS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 266,444, dated October 24, 1882.

.Application filed September 7, 1882.

To alt whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BERNARD DREYFUSS, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Playing-Cards; and I do hereby declare that the following is a iull, clear, and exact description of the same, 1et'erence being had to the accompanying sheet ot' drawings, making part of this specification.

rIhis invention is in the nature ot' an improvement in playing-cards; and the invention consists in playing-cards with their characteristic markings l'ormed ot' let-ters and words, and their backs provided with printed matter, as is more particularly hereinafter described.

In the accompanying sheetot1 drawings, Figure l represents the faces ofthe cards. Fig. 2 represents the backs.

Similar letters ofret'erenee indicatelike parts in both figures.

This invention is intended to make useful the ordinary playing-card as a means of advertising; ,and to accomplish this in a better and more effective manner than heretofore each characteristic mark or design-such as the heart,club,spade, &c.-'on the face ot' the card is formed ot' letters and words so arranged and proportioned as to form not only the several distinctive characters and well-known conventional colors, but also to convey toA the player an advertising announcement. (See Fig. l.) Each spot on the card may contain the same advertising-matter, or different advertisements, and,if you choose, small cuts representing the several things in this way advertised.

rIhe letters and words forming the several spots ot' the cards may be placed in reverse orderthat is to say, so that the letters will read from each end or from each side of the card toward its center-so thatit matters not which end or side of the card is held uppermost, for one-half of the advertising-matter will always be in proper position to be read.

Instead ot' forming the entire spot ot' letters, a suitable outline of each distinctive character may be drawn, and the space inclosed by such outline lled in by letters and sentences of advertising-matter. (See Fig. l at A.) Besides forming the spots of the cards of printed (No model.)

matter, their backs are also employed for the purpose of imparting information by way of advertisingannouncements. Forthatpurpose each back has printed or otherwise placed upon it any given advertisement, as well as pictured representations ot' the thing advertised. (See Fig. 2 at B.) These back advertisements may be printed in one direction across the entire backot' the card; or they may be also printed in reverse order from each end or side ot' the card toward its center. (See Fig. 2 at G.) The printed matter may be arranged in designs, as in Fig. 1 at I), so that in every way or position the card is held, or even when lying on its back, or on its face, the advertisement will appear and in proper position to be read and clearly understood. The spots of the cards, as well as their backs, instead of containing ordinary advertising-matter, may contain moral sentiments, trite sayings, and witty sentences, adding thereby instruction, as well as amusement, t0 the holders ot' the cards.

From the foregoing it will be readily seen that the usefulness ot' the ordinary playingcard is greatly enhanced, and the venders ot merchandise can have attention called to their wares throughout the civilized world in an inexpensive, prominent, and durable manner, not only greatly btnietitingv the advertiser, but imparting knowledge to many who otherwise would remain uninformed.

Packs of playing-cards with their backs and faces embellished as above described can be distributed among the customers of the advertiser, and by such distribution at once advertise his Wares or calling in a popular and durablemanner,that willatonce give 'nim amplepublicity, and in places and under circumstances vwhere otherwise his advertisement would be denied admission.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A playing-card with the characteristic marks or devices on its face formed ot' letters or designs and its back provided with advertising-matter,substantially asis shown and described.

2. In aplaying-card,theface-spots composed et' letters and sentences printed to be read from auch end to the center of the card, substantially as is shown and described.

3. In a playingeard, the characteristic spots 5 0n the face of the card suitably outlined and the space within the outlines filled in by letters and words, substantially as. shown and described.

4. In n playing-card, lbeback thereof printed s0 as to be read from each end and from each 1o side to the center of the card, substantially as is shown and described.

BERNARD DREYFUSS. Witnesses CHARLES E. Sums, J r., G. M, PLYMPTON. 

